
An incident involving Outlander star Sam Heughan made headlines after a fan interaction at a New Orleans convention.
The actor was at Wizard World when a fan jokingly pretended she was going to grab his rear end, but now Heughan is defending her.
The angles of some videos make it look as though the woman, who was invited on stage during one of Heughan’s panels, grabbed him. However, other angles reveal that she put her hands behind him in a suggestive gesture, not actually touching him.
Embed from Getty ImagesSome fans were outraged, believing that the Outlander actor had been violated without his consent.
However, Heughan has taken to Twitter to note that he didn’t have an issue with it. He posted another angle to clarify that he wasn’t touched and defended the woman.
No one touched me. Video is misleading, taken out of context. We were playing a game, trying to put each other off. I pushed her and totally would have done anything to win! Which I did… ahem…
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020
A wonderful day! Appreciate the concern but nothing happened here.x https://t.co/EYeqPeUuar
Here is the angle. It was a joke. We were having fun and she made a gesture, in jest. Nothing more. X pic.twitter.com/ufrZbeb32z
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020
He went on to retweet a video of another angle.
No touch. pic.twitter.com/LR0L13n5Wn
— Nicole 💗s OL (@sassynachNicole) January 5, 2020
“Appears” But didn’t. This is misleading and dangerous. Please don’t report unverified content again. You have a responsibility. Thank you @EW x https://t.co/8Nx5bCV215
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020
Even following his clarification, many said that the gesture was a disrespectful joke (one which would never be made to his female co-star Caitriona Balfe without uproar) and shouldn’t have been made at all.
Heughan replied to Entertainment Tonight host Leanne Aguilera to add that he really wasn’t offended and doesn’t feel it needs to be discussed.
“There was no harm in it. Was all taken out of context. We were messing around and being silly on stage. Should never have been blown up like this,” he wrote.
There was no harm in it. Was all taken out of context. We were messing around and being silly on stage. Should never have been blown up like this. X
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020
He replied to another fan, “Nothing happened. I was there. She made a gesture. In jest. I think everyone should calm down.”
Nothing happened. I was there. She made a gesture. In jest. I think everyone should calm down. X
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020
The actor ended his tweet streak by saying he had a “wonderful day” at Wizarding World New Orleans 2020.
A wonderful day! Loved meeting everyone. Generous hospitality and a warm welcome. Goodnight all. X https://t.co/GShez41AAv
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020